Thickness measuring device
By designing a photothermal measurement device carried by a drone, the problem of corrosion detection of high-altitude structures at sea is solved, safe and accurate detection of corrosion layer thickness is achieved, and operation and maintenance costs and risks are reduced.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202411753544.5
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-12-02
- Publication Date
- 2025-02-28
AI Technical Summary
The existing technology is difficult to achieve all-round and full-life cycle corrosion detection and evaluation of marine high-altitude structures, resulting in a lack of targeted corrosion protection measures and high-altitude operations pose safety risks and high costs.
A thickness measurement device including a drone, a pod and a photothermal measuring mechanism is designed, and the photothermal measuring mechanism is transported by a drone to the vicinity of a high altitude structure. Through photothermal excitation and temperature change measurement, contactless detection of the thickness of the surface corrosion layer of the high altitude structure is achieved.
It realizes safe and reliable monitoring of the thickness of the corrosion layer on the surface of high altitude structures, reduces the risk of manual altitude operations, saves labor costs, and improves the stability and accuracy of measurement.
Smart Images
Figure CN119533372A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of high altitude structure corrosion protection, and in particular to a thickness measuring device. Background Art
[0002] Wind turbines, ultra-high voltage transmission towers and other high-altitude structures are relatively tall and are mostly located above the sea. These high-altitude structures at sea not only have to deal with the impact of high humidity and high salinity, but also have to deal with erosion from a variety of natural forces such as sea breeze, sea fog, and waves. Therefore, the corrosion problem is becoming increasingly prominent. Compared with land facilities, the corrosion operation and maintenance of these high-altitude structures at sea poses greater challenges.
[0003] At present, there is still a lack of research on the corrosion behavior of high-altitude structures at sea and on land throughout the entire line, space, and life cycle, which leads to a lack of targeted corrosion protection measures and the inability to achieve systematic corrosion control. In addition, due to the limitations of existing corrosion detection technology, it is impossible to achieve comprehensive corrosion detection and evaluation, which leads to the incomplete research on corrosion behavior and corrosion mechanism. Moreover, high-altitude structures at sea are located above the sea surface. During operation and maintenance, staff need to take a boat to the designated location and then perform high-altitude operations. The maintenance cost is high and the risk factor is high. At the same time, due to the space limitations of the working environment, some hard-to-reach places are often difficult to monitor corrosion. Summary of the invention
[0004] Based on this, it is necessary to provide a thickness measuring device for monitoring the corrosion layer on the surface of high-altitude structures.
[0005] The present application provides a thickness measuring device, comprising:
[0006] A drone, comprising a frame and a rotor arranged on the frame;
[0007] A pod connected to the rack;
[0008] A photothermal measurement mechanism is provided in the pod and is used to apply photothermal excitation to a target area and obtain a temperature change of the target area to obtain a corrosion layer thickness of the target area.
[0009] The technical solution is further described below:
[0010] In one embodiment, the photothermal measurement mechanism comprises:
[0011] A photothermal probe, the photothermal probe comprising a laser emitter and an infrared thermal imager, the laser emitter is used to apply photothermal excitation to the target area, and the infrared thermal imager is used to obtain temperature changes in the target area;
[0012] A power source, the power source being arranged in the pod;
[0013] A wire electrically connects the photothermal probe and the power supply.
[0014] In one embodiment, the photothermal measurement mechanism further comprises:
[0015] A first camera module, the first camera module is arranged on the photothermal probe, and the first camera module is used to obtain an image of the target area; and / or,
[0016] A first distance measuring module, wherein the first distance measuring module is arranged on the photothermal probe, and the first distance measuring module is used to obtain the distance from the target area to the photothermal probe.
[0017] In one embodiment, the photothermal measurement mechanism further comprises:
[0018] A protection frame, wherein the protection frame is a semi-enclosed structure having an opening on one side, the side of the protection frame facing away from the opening is connected to the pod, and the photothermal probe is arranged in the protection frame and faces the opening; and / or,
[0019] A horizontal platform is provided, wherein the horizontal platform is connected to the pod in a floating manner, and the photothermal probe is arranged on the horizontal platform.
[0020] In one embodiment, the pod includes vertical rods and cross rods that are intersectingly arranged, one end of the vertical rod is detachably connected to the frame, the other end of the vertical rod is connected to the cross rod, and the photothermal measurement mechanism is arranged on the cross rod.
[0021] In one of the embodiments, the photothermal measurement mechanism is disposed at one end of the crossbar, and the other end of the crossbar is connected to a horizontal propeller.
[0022] In one embodiment, the frame includes a first arm, a second arm and a connecting arm, the first arm and the second arm are cross-arranged, both ends of the first arm and both ends of the second arm are each provided with a rotor, one end of the connecting arm is connected to the intersection of the first arm and the second arm, and the other end of the connecting arm is connected to the pod.
[0023] In one embodiment, a second ranging module is respectively disposed at both ends of the first arm and both ends of the second arm, and the second ranging module is used to obtain the distance between the drone and surrounding objects.
[0024] In one of the embodiments, the drone further includes a second camera module, which is disposed on the connecting arm and is used to acquire images of the surroundings of the drone.
[0025] In one embodiment, the drone further includes a protection cage, the protection cage is arranged outside the rotor, and the surface of the protection cage has a hollow structure.
[0026] The above-mentioned thickness measuring device sets the photothermal measuring mechanism on a pod connected to a drone, so that the photothermal measuring mechanism can be transported to the vicinity of a high-altitude structure by using a drone, and then the photothermal measuring mechanism applies photothermal excitation to the target area to be measured on the high-altitude structure, so that the surface of the target area is heated, and then the temperature change of the target area is obtained, and then the thickness of the corrosion layer on the surface of the target area can be obtained by using the principle of photothermal thickness measurement, thereby realizing safe and reliable monitoring of the thickness of the corrosion layer on the surface of the high-altitude structure. In addition, the use of drones instead of manual tower climbing ensures the safety of practitioners and greatly saves labor costs. At the same time, the use of photothermal measuring mechanisms can realize non-contact measurement of the thickness of the corrosion layer on the surface of high-altitude structures, avoiding the influence of strong electromagnetic fields on the measurement results, and can realize non-destructive testing of the thickness of the corrosion layer on the surface of high-altitude structures and obtain data that is closer to reality, thereby improving measurement stability and accuracy. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] The drawings constituting a part of the present application are used to provide a further understanding of the present application. The illustrative embodiments of the present application and their descriptions are used to explain the present application and do not constitute an improper limitation on the present application.
[0028] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, the drawings required for use in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative work.
[0029] In addition, the drawings are not drawn to a 1:1 scale, and the relative sizes of the various elements are drawn only as examples in the drawings and are not necessarily drawn according to the true scale.
[0030] FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a thickness measuring device according to an embodiment.
[0031] FIG. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of the thickness measuring device shown in FIG. 1 .
[0032] Description of reference numerals:
[0033] 11. Frame; 111. First arm; 112. Second arm; 113. Connecting arm; 12. Rotor; 13. Second ranging module; 14. Second camera module; 20. Pod; 21. Vertical rod; 22. Horizontal rod; 31. Photothermal probe; 32. Wire; 33. Power supply; 34. First camera module; 35. First ranging module; 40. Horizontal propeller. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0034] In order to make the above-mentioned purposes, features and advantages of the present application more obvious and easy to understand, the specific implementation methods of the present application are described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the following description, many specific details are set forth to facilitate a full understanding of the present application. However, the present application can be implemented in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar improvements without violating the connotation of the present application, so the present application is not limited by the specific embodiments disclosed below.
[0035] In the description of the present application, it should be understood that if the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc. appear, the orientation or position relationship indicated by these terms is based on the orientation or position relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, which is only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, and does not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on the present application.
[0036] In addition, if the terms "first" or "second" appear, these terms are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of the features. In the description of this application, if the term "plurality" appears, the meaning of "plurality" is at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise clearly and specifically defined.
[0037] In this application, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, if the terms "installed", "connected", "connected", "fixed" and the like appear, these terms should be understood in a broad sense. For example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integrated connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, it can be the internal connection of two elements or the interaction relationship between two elements, unless otherwise clearly defined. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in this application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.
[0038] In the present application, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, if there is a description that a first feature is "above" or "below" a second feature, etc., or similar descriptions appear, it may mean that the first and second features are in direct contact, or that the first and second features are in indirect contact through an intermediate medium. Moreover, the first feature being "above", "above" and "above" the second feature may mean that the first feature is directly above or obliquely above the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is higher in level than the second feature. The first feature being "below", "below" and "below" the second feature may mean that the first feature is directly below or obliquely below the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is lower in level than the second feature.
[0039] It should be noted that if an element is referred to as being "fixed to" or "disposed on" another element, it may be directly on the other element or there may be a central element. If an element is considered to be "connected to" another element, it may be directly connected to the other element or there may be a central element at the same time. If any, the terms "vertical", "horizontal", "upper", "lower", "left", "right" and similar expressions used in this application are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only implementation method.
[0040] An embodiment of the present application provides a thickness measuring device that can be used to detect the thickness of the surface corrosion layer of high-altitude structures such as wind turbines and ultra-high voltage transmission towers. It is worth noting that the thickness measuring device can also be used to detect the coating thickness or corrosion layer thickness of other metal surfaces in high-altitude environments or low-altitude environments, without limitation.
[0041] Specifically, referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 , a thickness measuring device of an embodiment includes a drone, a pod 20 and a photothermal measurement mechanism, wherein the drone includes a frame 11 and a rotor 12 disposed on the frame 11. The pod 20 is connected to the frame 11, and the photothermal measurement mechanism is disposed in the pod 20. The photothermal measurement mechanism is used to apply photothermal excitation to a target area and obtain the temperature change of the target area, and the corrosion layer thickness of the target area can be obtained by using the principle of photothermal thickness measurement. The target area refers to the surface area of the structure to be measured.
[0042] The above-mentioned thickness measuring device sets the photothermal measuring mechanism on the pod 20 connected to the drone, so that the photothermal measuring mechanism can be transported to the vicinity of the high-altitude structure by using the drone, and then the photothermal measuring mechanism applies photothermal excitation to the target area to be measured on the high-altitude structure, so that the surface of the target area is heated, and then the temperature change of the target area is obtained, and then the thickness of the corrosion layer on the surface of the target area can be obtained by using the principle of photothermal thickness measurement, thereby realizing safe and reliable monitoring of the thickness of the corrosion layer on the surface of the high-altitude structure. In addition, the use of drones instead of manual tower climbing ensures the safety of practitioners and greatly saves labor costs. At the same time, the use of photothermal measuring mechanisms can realize non-contact measurement of the thickness of the corrosion layer on the surface of high-altitude structures, and can also avoid the influence of strong electromagnetic fields on the measurement results, and can realize non-destructive testing of the thickness of the corrosion layer on the surface of high-altitude structures and obtain data that is closer to reality, thereby improving measurement stability and accuracy.
[0043] Referring to FIG. 1 , in one embodiment, the photothermal measurement mechanism includes a photothermal probe 31, a power supply 33, and a wire 32, wherein the photothermal probe 31 includes a laser emitter (not shown) and an infrared thermal imager (not shown), the laser emitter is used to apply photothermal excitation to the target area, and the infrared thermal imager is used to obtain the temperature change of the target area. The power supply 33 is disposed in the pod 20, and the wire 32 electrically connects the photothermal probe 31 and the power supply 33 to realize power supply to the photothermal probe 31.
[0044] Specifically, in one embodiment, the laser transmitter can emit a laser beam or a strong light source to the target area to heat the surface of the target area. For example, after the target area is heated, thermal radiation will be generated for the infrared thermal imager to form an infrared image of the target area. The photothermal probe 31 can also transmit the infrared image back to the ground control console, and the ground control console can obtain a curve of temperature change over time by analyzing the infrared image. Then, based on the heat conduction properties of the corrosion layer, the speed at which the temperature propagates in the corrosion layer can be calculated, and based on the speed and the characteristics of instantaneous photothermal excitation, the thickness of the corrosion layer can be derived.
[0045] Referring to Figure 1, in one embodiment, the photothermal measurement mechanism also includes a first camera module 34, which is arranged on the photothermal probe 31. The first camera module 34 is used to obtain an image of the target area so that the photothermal probe 31 can more accurately measure the thickness of the corrosion layer of the target area, and it is also convenient for ground personnel to clearly monitor the corrosion condition of the target area, which is convenient for subsequent maintenance of the corrosion of the target area.
[0046] Continuing to refer to FIG. 1 , the photothermal measurement mechanism also includes a first ranging module 35 , which is disposed on the photothermal probe 31 . The first ranging module 35 is used to obtain the distance from the target area to the photothermal probe 31 , so that the photothermal probe 31 can more accurately measure the corrosion layer thickness of the target area.
[0047] In one embodiment, the photothermal measurement mechanism further includes a protection frame (not shown), which is a semi-enclosed structure with an opening on one side, and the side of the protection frame facing away from the opening is connected to the pod 20, and the photothermal probe 31 is arranged in the protection frame and faces the opening. The semi-enclosed protection frame can effectively protect the photothermal probe 31 and prevent the photothermal probe 31 from being damaged by collision.
[0048] In one embodiment, the photothermal measurement mechanism further includes a horizontal pan-tilt platform (as shown in the figure), which can be connected to the pod 20 in a floating manner, and the photothermal probe 31 is arranged on the horizontal pan-tilt platform. Specifically, the horizontal pan-tilt platform is arranged in a protective frame, and the pod 20 is placed in the protective frame with one end extending therein to be connected to the horizontal pan-tilt platform. The horizontal pan-tilt platform can always maintain the photothermal probe 31 in a horizontal state, reduce the jitter problem of the photothermal probe 31 during the measurement process, improve the measurement accuracy of the photothermal probe 31, and also facilitate the first camera module 34 to obtain a clearer and more stable image.
[0049] Referring to FIG. 1 , in one embodiment, the pod 20 includes a vertical rod 21 and a horizontal rod 22 arranged to intersect each other, one end of the vertical rod 21 is detachably connected to the frame 11, the other end of the vertical rod 21 is connected to the horizontal rod 22, and the photothermal measurement mechanism is arranged on the horizontal rod 22. That is, the pod 20 is a T-shaped structure, and the T-shaped pod 20 has a simple structure, which is conducive to reducing the weight of the pod 20. Exemplarily, the horizontal rod 22 can be a reinforced carbon fiber rod, which has high structural strength and light weight, and can further reduce the weight of the pod 20.
[0050] Referring to FIG. 2 , the photothermal measurement mechanism is disposed at one end of the crossbar 22. Specifically, the photothermal probe 31, the protection frame and the horizontal gimbal of the photothermal measurement mechanism are disposed at one end of the crossbar 22, and the power supply 33 is disposed on the crossbar 22. A horizontal propeller 40 is connected to the other end of the crossbar 22. On the one hand, the horizontal propeller 40 can be used as a counterweight to keep the two ends of the crossbar 22 balanced to ensure the stability of the UAV. On the other hand, the horizontal propeller 40 can propel the UAV horizontally, so that the photothermal probe 31 can stably approach the target area to measure the corrosion layer thickness of the target area.
[0051] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 , in one embodiment, the frame 11 includes a first arm 111, a second arm 112 and a connecting arm 113, the first arm 111 and the second arm 112 are cross-arranged, and a rotor 12 is provided at each end of the first arm 111 and the second arm 112, one end of the connecting arm 113 is connected to the intersection of the first arm 111 and the second arm 112, and the other end of the connecting arm 113 is connected to the pod 20. In other words, the drone is provided with four rotors 12, and the four rotors 12 are arranged at intervals. The use of four rotors 12 can greatly improve the lift of the drone, ensuring that the drone can stably transport the photothermal measurement mechanism to the target area of the high-altitude structure. It is worth noting that in other embodiments, the number of rotors 12 can also be one, two, three, five or more.
[0052] Referring to Fig. 1, in one embodiment, a second distance measuring module 13 is provided at each end of the first arm 111 and the second arm 112, and the second distance measuring module 13 is used to obtain the distance between the drone and the surrounding objects. By using the second distance measuring module 13 to obtain the distance between the drone and the surrounding objects, on the one hand, the drone can be prevented from colliding with surrounding obstacles, and on the other hand, the distance between the drone and the target area to be detected can be obtained in real time, so as to control the drone to approach the target area to be detected.
[0053] Referring to FIG. 2 , in one embodiment, the drone further includes a second camera module 14, which is disposed on the connecting arm 113 and is used to obtain images around the drone. Using the second camera module 14 to obtain images around the drone, on the one hand, facilitates the ground operator to observe obstacles around the drone and helps the operator control the flight trajectory of the drone. On the other hand, the second camera module can be used to observe the corrosion of high-altitude structures in all directions, thereby finding the target area to be measured.
[0054] Optionally, in one embodiment, the drone further includes a protection cage (not shown), which is arranged outside the rotor 12, and the surface of the protection cage has a hollow structure. Specifically, each rotor 12 is covered with a protection cage. The protection cage can effectively protect the rotor 12 and prevent the rotor 12 from being damaged by collision. It is further proposed that by arranging the hollow structure on the surface of the protection cage, the influence of the protection cage on the lift of the rotor 12 can be reduced.
[0055] Specifically, in one embodiment, the method for the thickness measuring device to monitor the corrosion layer of the high-altitude structure comprises the following steps:
[0056] Operate the drone to fly to a position near the high-altitude structure at sea, use the second camera module 14 to observe the corrosion of the surface of the high-altitude structure at sea from a distance, and after finding the target area to be measured, operate the drone to slowly approach the target area to be measured. During this process, use the second distance measurement module 13 to display the distance between the drone and the target area in real time. When the distance is within 3 meters, the drone enters the automatic mode;
[0057] In the automatic mode, the drone slowly approaches the target area, and at the same time, the first distance measuring module 35 and the first camera module 34 at the front end of the photothermal probe 31 are started to obtain the image of the target area and the distance from the target area to the photothermal probe 31 in real time. The image of the target area and the distance from the target area to the photothermal probe 31 are accurately displayed on the ground console. When the target area enters the measurable distance of the photothermal probe 31, the console can select the automatic measurement mode or the manual measurement mode;
[0058] In the automatic measurement mode, the photothermal probe 31 starts automatically, and the laser emitter of the photothermal probe 31 emits a laser beam or a strong light source to the target area to heat the surface of the target area. The infrared thermal imager obtains the infrared image of the target area and transmits it back to the ground control console. At the same time, the first camera module 34 captures the real-time image of the target area being measured and transmits the real-time image to the ground control console synchronously for inspection personnel to view. By analyzing the infrared image, the inspection personnel can obtain the curve of temperature change over time, and then according to the heat conduction properties of the corrosion layer, the speed of temperature propagation in the corrosion layer can be calculated. According to this speed and the characteristics of instantaneous photothermal excitation, the thickness of the corrosion layer can be derived.
[0059] In manual mode, the drone hovers at a fixed position, and the operator uses the console to operate the drone to move precisely in the direction of the target area. After fixing the position, click the measurement button on the console, the photothermal probe 31 starts, and the laser emitter of the photothermal probe 31 emits a laser beam or a strong light source to the target area to heat the surface of the target area. The infrared thermal imager obtains the infrared image of the target area and transmits it back to the ground console. At the same time, the first camera module 34 captures the real-time image of the target area being measured, and transmits the real-time image to the ground console synchronously for inspection personnel to view. By analyzing the infrared image, the inspection personnel can obtain a curve of temperature change over time, and then according to the heat conduction properties of the corrosion layer, the speed of temperature propagation in the corrosion layer can be calculated. According to the speed and the characteristics of instantaneous photothermal excitation, the thickness of the corrosion layer can be derived.
[0060] The technical features of the above-described embodiments may be arbitrarily combined. To make the description concise, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above-described embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.
[0061] The above-described embodiments only express several implementation methods of the present application, and the descriptions thereof are relatively specific and detailed, but they cannot be construed as limiting the scope of the patent application. It should be pointed out that, for a person of ordinary skill in the art, several variations and improvements can be made without departing from the concept of the present application, and these all belong to the protection scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the patent application shall be subject to the attached claims.
Claims
1. A thickness measuring device, characterized in that: include: A drone, comprising a frame and a rotor arranged on the frame; A pod connected to the rack; A photothermal measurement mechanism is provided in the pod and is used to apply photothermal excitation to a target area and obtain a temperature change of the target area to obtain a corrosion layer thickness of the target area.
2. The thickness measuring device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The photothermal measurement mechanism comprises: A photothermal probe, the photothermal probe comprising a laser emitter and an infrared thermal imager, the laser emitter is used to apply photothermal excitation to the target area, and the infrared thermal imager is used to obtain temperature changes in the target area; A power source, the power source being arranged in the pod; A wire electrically connects the photothermal probe and the power supply.
3. The thickness measuring device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The photothermal measurement mechanism also includes: A first camera module, the first camera module is arranged on the photothermal probe, and the first camera module is used to obtain an image of the target area; and / or, A first distance measuring module, wherein the first distance measuring module is arranged on the photothermal probe, and the first distance measuring module is used to obtain the distance from the target area to the photothermal probe.
4. The thickness measuring device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The photothermal measurement mechanism also includes: A protection frame, wherein the protection frame is a semi-enclosed structure having an opening on one side, the side of the protection frame facing away from the opening is connected to the pod, and the photothermal probe is arranged in the protection frame and faces the opening; and / or, A horizontal platform is provided, wherein the horizontal platform is connected to the pod in a floating manner, and the photothermal probe is arranged on the horizontal platform.
5. The thickness measuring device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pod includes a vertical rod and a cross rod that are arranged to intersect each other. One end of the vertical rod is detachably connected to the frame, and the other end of the vertical rod is connected to the cross rod. The photothermal measurement mechanism is arranged on the cross rod.
6. The thickness measuring device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The photothermal measurement mechanism is arranged at one end of the crossbar, and the other end of the crossbar is connected with a horizontal propeller.
7. The thickness measuring device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The frame includes a first arm, a second arm and a connecting arm, the first arm and the second arm are cross-arranged, both ends of the first arm and both ends of the second arm are each provided with a rotor, one end of the connecting arm is connected to the intersection of the first arm and the second arm, and the other end of the connecting arm is connected to the pod.
8. The thickness measuring device according to claim 7, characterized in that: A second ranging module is also provided at each end of the first arm and the second arm, and the second ranging module is used to obtain the distance between the drone and surrounding objects.
9. The thickness measuring device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The drone also includes a second camera module, which is disposed on the connecting arm and is used to acquire images around the drone.
10. The thickness measuring device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: The UAV also includes a protection cage, which is arranged outside the rotor and has a hollow structure on the surface of the protection cage.